Draft-equalizer.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

. J. POWERS. DRAFT EQUALIZE ,APPLIUATION FILED 00T.3l,

and State of Michigan,

positions relative to the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DRAFT-E QuAuzEia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iauenteo. only 17, 1906i.

Application filed October 31, 1905. Serial No. 285,297.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN Pownns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bennington, in the county of Shiawassee have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to draft-equalizers of the type known as threehorse eveners, and has for its objects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character in which the draft on the animal will be properly equalized, one wherein the parts may be adjusted for varying the draft upon the central animal, and one in which a sim ple efficient connection is made between the ends of the equalizer bars or levers and the central swingletree.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a draft-equalizer embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of one of the clevises, the section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified embodiment of the clevis.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main draft bar or lever adapted for connection with a vehicle, there being connected to said lever by means of coupling members or clevises 2 a pair of equalizing bars or levers 3, provided adjacent their outer ends each with a plurality of spaced openings or perforations 4 and having at their inner ends suitable cli s 5, engaged with a connecting-ring or anniilus 6, to which is pivotally connected, by means of a clip 7, a swingletree 8, centrally disposed between a pair of similar swingletrees 9, attached, respectively, to the outer ends of the levers 3 by means of clevises 10, the coupling pins 11 of which are entered through the openings 4. It is to be noted in this connection that the ring 6 serves the twofold function of pivotally connecting the inner ends of the equalizer-bars and as the means of pivotally connecting the swingletree 8 with the latter, and, further, that by the provision of a plurality of openings 4 in each of the equalizer-bars the coupling-pins 11 may be shifted for varying their fulcra of the levers,

thus to regulate the draft of the outer am- -m. W A

mals for equalizing the draft upon the central animal.

The coupling members or clevises 2, constituting one feature of my invention and which are identical in construction and operation, are each formed from a single piece of material of substantially S shape, presenting a central portion or web 12, and upper or lower portions or arms 13 14, disposed, respectvely, on opposite sides of and sub stantially coextensive in length with the web 12, from which latter they are appropriately spaced to produce recesses 15 16, which re ceive, respectively, the levers 1 and 3, appropriately secured in place by means of pivoting members or bolts 17 18, it being noted in this connection that owing to the arms 13 14 being of a length substantially equaling that of the web 12, the length or depth of the recesses 15 16 is correspondingly increased, thus to provide an increased range of movement for the draft and equalizer levers, and, further, that the levers 3 are so disposed and maintained relative to the draft-lever 1 as to spring freely past and without coming in contact with the latter.

The arms 13 and 14 are preferably each provided at its outer ends with a bolt-receiving portion or enlargement 19, perforated to receive the adjacent pivoting-bolt 17 or 18, the web 12 being correspondingly perforated to receive said bolts, it being noted that the bolt-receiving perforations in the web 12 are situated at points adjacent the ends of the latter and within the recesses 15 and 16, whereby the retaining-nuts upon the bolts will be disposed within the respectve recesses, and thus protect it from liability of being accidentally loosened.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a modified form of clevis in which the arms 13 14 join the central web 12 at points somewhat remote from the ends of the latter, whereby the pivoting-bolts 17 and 18, entered through the arms and web, are positioned outside of the recesses 15 16, provided between said parts. In other respects the construction, arrangement, and functions of the clevis are identical with that above described.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple device in which the draft on the animals will be properly equalized and one wherein the equalizer-levers are so connected with the bar 1 as to swing freely past the latter in operation, it being understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described inyinvention, What I claim as new is In a draft-equalizer, a draft-bar, a pair of equalizer-levers pivotally connected therewith, said levers being provided adjacent their outer ends each With a plurality of openings, clips carried by the inner ends of the levers, a coupling-ring engaged With said clips for connecting the levers, a swingletree pivotally connected with the ring, clevises disposed at the outer ends of the levers, coupling pins for said clevises each entered through one of the openings in the corresponding lever, and sWingletrees engaged with the clevises.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN POWERS. Witnesses:

W. E. MCKENZIE, LULU E. OADWALLADER. 

